Tailored to a Resilient Summer: How Rest, Nature, and Creativity Help Me Recharge as a Mom, Maker, and Survivor
Slowing Down Doesn’t Mean You’re Falling Behind
If you had asked me 20 years ago if I was a “beach person,” I would’ve laughed and said absolutely not. Bugs? Sand? No thank you. But something shifts as we grow, evolve, and go through the hard stuff. I’ve learned that what once felt like discomfort is now a form of healing.
Whether I’m barefoot in the grass, standing by the ocean, or getting my hands into soil while repotting a plant, those moments of quiet connection with nature have become my most powerful recharge tools.
As a breast cancer survivor, autoimmune warrior, former caregiver, and creative entrepreneur, I know firsthand how hard it is to slow down. But I also know how necessary it is.
The Guilt of Rest (and How I’m Learning to Release It)
I guess ypu can say that I spent years in survival mode—raising my children, caring for my parents when they got sick, helping to run a home, working, and now building a business. Even today, when I finally sit still, I feel guilty. Like I should be doing something.
But my body, my spirit, and my creativity need rest. So I’m learning that it’s not laziness—it’s resilience.
What Resilience Looks Like in Summer
To me, resilience isn’t about pushing through like everything’s fine. It’s about honoring every emotion, every ache, and still finding ways to keep going. Even if that means pausing. Even if that means letting yourself feel instead of fix.
During summer, I recharge by creating. Sometimes it’s in the kitchen. Sometimes it’s in my soap studio. Sometimes it’s a new tumbler or a resin tray. When I make something, I’m not just crafting…I’m centering myself.
Little Things That Help Me Feel Grounded
Here are a few small but mighty rituals that help me reset when life feels overwhelming:
- Grounding: Kick off your shoes and put your feet in the soil, sand, or grass. Yes, it sounds odd but the energy shift is real.
- Creative time: Paint, bake, write, or DIY something just for you.
- Read outside: Let the sun hit your face while you escape into a book.
- Soak in silence: (Literally.) A hot bath and a deep breath can do wonders.
When the Summer Isn’t All Sunshine
I live with autoimmune symptoms that act up in the heat. I haven’t been diagnosed with Lupus, but I deal with similar issues including a sun-triggered rash on my chest and arms. Even something as simple as time in the sun becomes a balancing act.
That’s part of what motivates me to create natural products. I know how important it is to soothe the body and soul without causing more harm.
Favorite Summer Memory: Blurry But Beautiful
One of my favorite family memories is from a trip to Busch Gardens in Virginia. I was 10 years old, nervous, and ended up falling into the “lazy river” and lost my glasses. I spent the rest of the trip seeing the world through a blur or through my mom’s prescription glasses. It wasn’t perfect, but it was hilarious. And those imperfect moments? They’re the ones I hold closest now.
What I Recommend for Summer Self-Care
If you’re looking for gentle ways to reset, here are two of my favorite tools:
- ✨ The Beyond Quaint Gratitude Journal – a soft place to land each day, available now on Amazon.
- 🛁 Beyond Natural Bath Soak – launching soon! Created to help you unwind, reset, and feel your best especially when your body feels tired.
Final Thoughts: You Deserve to Pause
Summer can bring pressure to go, do, be. But you’re allowed to pause. In fact, you need to.
Take the nap. Sit in the sun. Read the book. Let the house be messy for one more hour. You can’t pour from an empty cup and you don’t need to earn your rest.
I hope this post reminds you that you’re not alone in the struggle to slow down… and that healing often starts in the quiet.
💛 Grab your copy of Mindful Magic: Manifestation through Gratitude Journal available on Amazon.
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